Job DescriptionSeeking a highly motivated Applications / Programming Engineer to support and advance the digital manufacturing ecosystem in Ford Global and Powertrain Manufacturing Engineering Operations. This role is responsible for maintaining, enhancing, and modernizing business and manufacturing applications that support the successful implementation of new model programs and delivering our people, quality, delivery and operational excellence initiatives.
The successful candidate will leverage software engineering expertise, manufacturing knowledge, data analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and emerging Industry 4.0 technologies to improve operational efficiency, product quality, equipment reliability, and decision-making capabilities across the organization.
This position serves as a critical link between Information Technology, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, Quality, Maintenance, and Business stakeholders to ensure technology solutions deliver measurable value to the business.
Responsibilities1. Application Development, Support and Lifecycle Management- Scalable Launch Solutions: Design, develop, and deploy enterprise-grade software solutions, middleware, and REST APIs (Representational State Transfer Application Programming Interface) specifically engineered to support global manufacturing engineering new program launches and improve operational visibility of key deliverables and driving metrics.
- Standardized Integration: Architect robust integrations that connect new and existing organizational applications with global enterprise platforms.
- System Optimization: Enhance existing applications by improving functionality, usability, reliability, scalability, and performance.
- Application Lifecycle & Performance Management: Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of business-critical global manufacturing engineering applications-including proactive performance monitoring, root-cause troubleshooting, and system upgrades/enhancements and patch management.
2. AI, Automation & Industry 4.0 Innovation- Embed Advanced Tech: Identify opportunities to leverage and embed cutting-edge technologies-such as Generative AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), and predictive analytics-into digital tools and applications to improve the Global Manufacturing Engineering Organization effectiveness and decision-making.
- Intelligent Automation: Build automated workflows and digital solutions that minimize manual processes and improve agility and efficiency.
3. Data Analytics & Operational Intelligence- Launch Readiness Data Workstreams: Design and maintain scalable data workstreams that aggregate manufacturing data from diverse global sources to track program launch metrics.
- Operational Visibility: Develop centralized dashboards and data visualizations that provide GME leadership with actionable, data-driven insights into key launch deliverables and driving metrics.
4. Manufacturing Collaboration & Continuous Improvement- Strategic Requirement Gathering: Partner with global cross-functional GME teams and business stakeholders to translate business needs into technical solutions.
- Project Delivery: Provide technical leadership for manufacturing application solutions and digital tools to support program delivery process optimization using a data-driven approach, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Continuous Improvement initiatives.
5
. Cybersecurity & Compliance- Security & Compliance (Secure-by-Design): Implement secure software development lifecycle (SSDLC) practices and lead vulnerability remediation across manufacturing applications to ensure all connected systems strictly comply with enterprise security policies, industry standards, and regulatory requirements.
Note: Training will be provided for the above responsibilities and associated systems as needed.
QualificationsMinimum Qualifications:- Education: Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering or an equivalent technical discipline such as Computer Science/Software/ Engineering.
- Experience: 5+years of experience in an engineering discipline (ideally software development, applications engineering, or industrial automation), including hands-on experience supporting and troubleshooting enterprise systems.
- Core Technical Stack: Proficiency in at least one of the following major programming languages (ColdFusion, Python, Java, JavaScript/TypeScript, HTML5 or CSS3), at least one core framework (React/Angular/jQuery), relational databases (SQL Server or Oracle) and knowledge/utilization of REST API's.
- Software Delivery: Experience building/consuming REST APIs, web applications, and system integrations using modern SDLC practices and version control tools (e.g. Git / GitHub).
- AI & Advanced Analytics: Experience building AI/ML models or deploying Generative AI solutions (Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), AI Assistants and Copilots, Azure OpenAI) to optimize manufacturing engineering efficiency and data flows.
- Cloud & DevOps Infrastructure: Hands-on experience with cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud Platform (GCP)), CI/CD pipelines, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and data engineering/data lake architectures.
- Value-Driven Problem Solver: Strong business acumen to proactively identify where technology can directly improve delivery of key metrics and organizational objectives.
- High-Impact Communication: Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts to cross-functional partners and confidently present, teach, or coach peers and Global Manufacturing Engineering (GME) leadership.
- Change Agency & Adaptability: A self-starter with a continuous improvement mindset who can adapt to a dynamic, cross-functional environment and lead technology-driven change.
- Agile Collaboration: Proven ability to adapt quickly to evolving project needs and collaborate effectively within fast-paced, diverse, and cross-functional teams.
Preferred Qualifications:- Digital Change Leadership: Proven ability to champion emerging technologies, drive manufacturing innovation, and lead technology-driven change initiatives within a manufacturing engineering organization.
- Value-Driven Problem Solving: A self-motivated individual with a strong sense of ownership and a demonstrated ability to leverage digital tools to directly improve Safety, Quality, Delivery, People, and Cost performance.
- Lean & Continuous Improvement: Practical knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and Kaizen initiatives, ideally supported by a Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
- Optimization and Modernization: Experience modernizing legacy code to drive application efficiency and optimization.
You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!
As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder...or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:
- Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
- Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up childcare and more
- Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
- Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
- Tuition assistance
- Established and active employee resource groups
- Paid time off for individual and team community service
- A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year's Day
- Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.
This position is a range of salary grades 6-8 and ranges from $74,300-166,200.
Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/GSR
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.Domestic relocation is available for this position.This position is hybrid. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week.
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